How To Declutter Sentimental Items Without The Guilt

We all have those items we would hate to lose, whether it’s an old collection of love letters or a cuddly stuffed animal you slept with as a child. The problem is, even those items become clutter when there’s too much of it.

So, how do you tidy up without losing those memories? Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Make Use of the Scanner

When going through old papers and essential documents, start by deciding which items are worth keeping.

Scan and upload those documents to a service that will hold a backup you can’t possibly lose. Remember, scanning absolutely everything leads to digital clutter, so only scan what’s essential.

Next, decide if you still need the originals.

If you don’t, shred everything once it’s safely digitized. If you must keep originals, put them somewhere safe, like a filing cabinet, fireproof safe, or a safety deposit box at your local bank.

Ditch Physical Copies of Music and Movies

We’re in the age of the internet and have the cloud at your fingertips. Why keep movies and music around in a tangible form?

The individual boxes are small, but when you put them all together, they take up a great deal of space.

Put what you want to keep online and donate or sell those old DVDs and CDs. Now your collection is available wherever you are.

Take Pictures

Sentimental objects might seem a little harder to declutter at first glance, but they don’t have to be.

Start by taking lots of pictures of those items with emotional attachment. Once you’ve taken all the photos, choose the objects you absolutely can’t part with and put the others in the donate box.

Take this a step further and create a small scrapbook or memory journal to store your photos and record the stories of why these items are important to you and your family.

more QUICK TIPS:

• Download your favorite books instead of owning physical copies. Now you can read them anytime, anywhere

• Give family heirlooms to other family members who might appreciate them more. You can ‘visit’ the items again when you see that family member, while at the same time blessing them with something they will cherish.

• Remind yourself your vintage objects are worth cold, hard cash to the right person. If you’ve already had your enjoyment of an object, let it go to bless someone else while you pocket the profit.

Letting go of a physical object doesn’t mean letting go of the significance of an object or even the experience of having owned it.

It means keeping the important aspects of it, whether it’s a picture or some other record of the memory, without needing the clutter of the object itself.

RELATED READING

• Let It Go by Peter Walsh*

If you want to transform your home — and your life — now is a great time to get organized. These tips and tricks will help you create a tidy home so you can enjoy your space stress-free. Get all the tips here: Turn Over a New Leaf with an Organized, Decluttered Home

Before You Go:

Check out my newest course: 

Declutter Your Home Office: Simple steps for organizing your home office to optimize your productivity

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• Printing on A5 Paper

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